J.C. Penney's may have taken away the snow globes it usually passes out each Black Friday, but Portland area customers are still getting a perk. The retailer will pass out free poinsettias to the first 1,000 at Pioneer Square on Dec. 6 between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.J.C. Penney

In its ongoing quest to win over more customers, J.C. Penney will unleash a herd of "elves" into Pioneer Courthouse Square next week.

The elves plan to create a mural made of hundreds of poinsettias between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Thursday that will spell Joy in the Square. The first 1,000 elf-watchers who come out to view the mural-making will receive free poinsettias.

For those who plan on attending, you can get in on the Twitter conversation at #jcp12days.

The mural is part of the department store chain's Holiday Giving Tour, which kicked off Tuesday with a performance by John Legend and free ice skating and hot chocolate at New York's Bryant Park. After hitting a dozen cities, the tour will wrap up next Saturday with a free Blake Shelton concert outside a J.C. Penney store in Los Angeles.